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Member State of the European Union
A Member State of the European Union is any one of the twenty-seven sovereign nation states that have acceded the European Union (EU) since its de facto inception in 1951 as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). From an original membership of six states, there have been six successive enlargements, the largest occurring on 1 May 2004, when ten Member States joined. The EU is currently composed of twenty republics, six kingdoms and one grand duchy. Following the addition of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007, the EU's membership now stands at twenty-seven. Negotiations are also under way with a number of other states. The process of enlargement is sometimes referred to as European integration. However, this term is also used to refer to the intensification of cooperation between EU Member States as national governments allow for the gradual centralising of power within European institutions. Before being allowed to join the European Union, a state must fulfil the economic and political conditions generally known as the Copenhagen criteria: these basically require that a candidate Member State must enjoy a secular, democratic system of government, together with the corresponding freedoms and institutions, and respect the rule of law. Under the terms of the Treaty on European Union, enlargement of the Union is conditional upon the agreement of each existing Member State as well as approval by the European Parliament. Bulgaria and Romania comprise the second part of the EU's fifth enlargement, and joined the EU on 1 January 2007. This date was agreed upon at the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003, confirmed at Brussels on 18 June 2004, and affirmed by the country reports of October 2004 and the final report delivered on 26 September 2006. Bulgaria and Romania signed their Treaty of Accession on 25 April 2005 at a ceremony held at Neumünster Abbey in Luxembourg.
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Notes
Enlargement
Animated map showing the enlargement; Applying with Britain were Ireland, Denmark and Norway. Norway however saw the first rejection of membership, with the electorate voting against it[37] leaving just Ireland and Denmark joining along side the UK.[36] But despite the setbacks, and the withdrawal of Greenland from Denmark's membership in 1985,[38] three more countries would join the Communities before the end of the Cold War.[36] In 1987, the geographical extent of the project was tested when Morocco applied, and was rejected as it was not considered a European country.[39] 1989 saw the Cold War drawing to a close, and East Germany was welcomed into the Community as part of a reunited Germany. Shortly after the previously neutral countries of Austria, Finland and Sweden acceded to the new European Union,[36] though Switzerland, which applied in 2002, froze its application due to opposition from voters[40] while Norway, which had applied once more, had its voters reject membership again.[41]) Meanwhile, the members of the former Eastern bloc and Yugoslavia were all starting to move towards EU membership. 10 of these joined in a "big bang" enlargement on 1 May 2004 symbolising the unification of East and Western Europe in the EU.[42] 2007 saw the latest members, Bulgaria and Romania, accede to the Union and the EU has prioritised membership for the Western Balkans. Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey are all formal, acknowledged candidates.[43] Turkey, which applied in the 1980s, is a more contentious issue but entered negotiations in 2004 (see Accession of Turkey to the European Union).[44] There are at present no plans to cease enlargement; according to the Copenhagen criteria, membership of the European Union is open to any European country that is a stable, free market liberal democracy that respects the rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, it has to be willing to accept all the obligations of membership such as adopting all previously agreed law and joining the euro.[45] <timeline> DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy ImageSize = width:820 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:20 right:40 bottom:30 top:15 Colors = id:negotiations value:rgb(1,0.8,0) legend:accession_negotiations id:membership value:skyblue legend:European_Union_member_state id:line value:gray(0.8) Period = from:01/01/1945 till:12/12/2010 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1950 gridcolor:line AlignBars = justify Legend = left:40 top:80 BarData= bar:Belgium bar:France bar:Germany bar:Italy bar:Luxembourg bar:Netherlands bar:Ireland bar:Denmark bar:United_Kingdom bar:Norway bar:Greece bar:Portugal bar:Spain bar:Turkey bar:Morocco bar:Austria bar:Cyprus bar:Malta bar:Sweden bar:Finland bar:Switzerland bar:Hungary bar:Poland bar:Romania bar:Slovakia bar:Latvia bar:Estonia bar:Lithuania bar:Bulgaria bar:Czech_Republic bar:Slovenia bar:Croatia bar:FYROM PlotData= width:18 fontsize:S textcolor:black anchor:from align:left bar:Belgium color:membership from:23/07/1952 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-42,-5) text:Belgium bar:France color:membership from:23/07/1952 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-37,-5) text:France bar:Germany color:membership from:23/07/1952 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-80,-5) text:(West) Germany bar:Italy color:membership from:23/07/1952 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-24,-5) text:Italy bar:Luxembourg color:membership from:23/07/1952 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-62,-5) text:Luxembourg bar:Netherlands color:membership from:23/07/1952 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-61,-5) text:Netherlands bar:Ireland color:negotiations from:31/07/1961 till:14/01/1963 shift:(-36,-5) text:Ireland at:14/01/1963 shift:(5,-5) text:withdr. textcolor:red at:31/07/1961 shift:(2,-5) text:1 textcolor:black color:negotiations from:11/05/1967 till:12/12/1972 at:11/05/1967 shift:(2,-5) text:2 textcolor:black color:membership from:01/01/1973 till:12/12/2008 bar:Denmark color:negotiations from:10/08/1961 till:14/01/1963 shift:(-47,-5) text:Denmark at:14/01/1963 shift:(5,-5) text:withdr. textcolor:red at:10/08/1961 shift:(2,-5) text:1 textcolor:black color:negotiations from:11/05/1967 till:12/12/1972 at:11/05/1967 shift:(2,-5) text:2 textcolor:black color:membership from:01/01/1973 till:12/12/2008 bar:United_Kingdom color:negotiations from:10/08/1961 till:14/01/1963 shift:(-80,-5) text:United Kingdom at:31/07/1961 shift:(2,-5) text:1 textcolor:black at:14/01/1963 shift:(5,-5) text:vetoed textcolor:red color:negotiations from:10/05/1967 till:12/12/1972 at:10/05/1967 shift:(2,-5) text:2 textcolor:black color:membership from:01/01/1973 till:12/12/2008 bar:Norway color:negotiations from:30/04/1962 till:14/01/1963 shift:(-39,-5) text:Norway at:14/01/1963 shift:(7,-5) text:withdr. textcolor:red at:30/04/1962 shift:(2,-5) text:1 textcolor:black color:negotiations from:21/07/1967 till:25/09/1972 at:25/09/1972 shift:(5,-5) text:withdrawn textcolor:red at:21/07/1967 shift:(2,-5) text:2 textcolor:black color:negotiations from:25/11/1992 till:28/11/1994 at:28/11/1994 shift:(5,-5) text:withdrawn textcolor:red at:25/11/1992 shift:(2,-5) text:3 textcolor:black bar:Greece color:negotiations from:12/06/1975 till:12/12/1980 shift:(-38,-5) text:Greece color:membership from:01/01/1981 till:12/12/2008 bar:Portugal color:negotiations from:28/03/1977 till:12/12/1985 shift:(-44,-5) text:Portugal color:membership from:01/01/1986 till:12/12/2008 bar:Spain color:negotiations from:28/03/1977 till:12/12/1985 shift:(-31,-5) text:Spain color:membership from:01/01/1986 till:12/12/2008 bar:Turkey color:negotiations from:14/04/1987 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-38,-5) text:Turkey at:12/12/2008 shift:(-54,-5) text:negotiating textcolor:green bar:Morocco color:negotiations from:20/07/1987 till:12/12/1987 shift:(-43,-5) text:Morocco at:12/12/1987 shift:(5,-5) text:rejected textcolor:red bar:Austria color:negotiations from:17/07/1989 till:12/12/1994 shift:(-38,-5) text:Austria color:membership from:01/01/1995 till:12/12/2008 bar:Cyprus color:negotiations from:03/07/1990 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-40,-5) text:Cyprus color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Malta color:negotiations from:03/07/1990 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-31,-5) text:Malta color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Sweden color:negotiations from:01/07/1991 till:12/12/1994 shift:(-43,-5) text:Sweden color:membership from:01/01/1995 till:12/12/2008 bar:Finland color:negotiations from:18/03/1992 till:12/12/1994 shift:(-41,-5) text:Finland color:membership from:01/01/1995 till:12/12/2008 bar:Switzerland color:negotiations from:25/05/1992 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-59,-5) text:Switzerland at:06/12/1992 shift:(160,-5) text:frozen textcolor:black bar:Hungary color:negotiations from:31/03/1994 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-46,-5) text:Hungary color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Poland color:negotiations from:05/04/1994 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-39,-5) text:Poland color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Romania color:negotiations from:22/06/1995 till:12/12/2006 shift:(-46,-5) text:Romania color:membership from:01/01/2007 till:12/12/2008 bar:Slovakia color:negotiations from:27/06/1995 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-44,-5) text:Slovakia color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Latvia color:negotiations from:13/10/1995 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-33,-5) text:Latvia color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Estonia color:negotiations from:24/11/1995 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-40,-5) text:Estonia color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Lithuania color:negotiations from:08/12/1995 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-49,-5) text:Lithuania color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Bulgaria color:negotiations from:14/12/1995 till:12/12/2006 shift:(-44,-5) text:Bulgaria color:membership from:01/01/2007 till:12/12/2008 bar:Czech_Republic color:negotiations from:17/01/1996 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-77,-5) text:Czech Republic color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Slovenia color:negotiations from:10/06/1996 till:31/03/2004 shift:(-44,-5) text:Slovenia color:membership from:01/04/2004 till:12/12/2008 bar:Croatia color:negotiations from:21/02/2003 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-38,-5) text:Croatia at:12/12/2008 shift:(-54,-5) text:negotiating textcolor:green bar:FYROM color:negotiations from:24/03/2004 till:12/12/2008 shift:(-189,-5) text:"former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" at:12/12/2008 shift:(-54,-5) text:negotiating textcolor:green </timeline> There are a number of countries with strong links with the EU, similar to elements of membership. Following Norway's failure to join the EU, it became one of the members of the European Economic Area which also includes Iceland and Liechtenstein (all former members have joined the EU and Switzerland rejected membership). The EEA links these countries into the EU's market, extending the four freedoms to these states. In return, they pay a membership fee and have to adopt most areas of EU law (which they do not have direct impact in shaping). The democratic repercussions of this have been described as "fax democracy" (waiting for new laws to be faxed in from Brussels rather than being involved).[46] A different example is Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been under international supervision. The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina is an international administrator who has wide ranging powers over Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure the peace agreement is respected. The High Representative is also the EU's representative, and is in practice appointed by the EU. In this role, and since a major ambition of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to join the EU, the country has become a de facto protectorate of the EU. The EU appointed representative has the power to impose legislation and dismiss elected officials and civil servants, meaning the EU has greater direct control over Bosnia and Herzegovina than its own member states. Indeed the state's flag was inspired by the EU's flag.[47] RepresentationEach state has representation in the institutions of the European Union. Full membership gives the government of a member state a seat in the Council of the European Union and European Council. When decisions are not being taken by consensus, votes are weighted so that a country with a greater population has more votes within the Council than a smaller country (although not exact, smaller countries have more votes than their population would allow relative to the largest countries). Similarly, each state is assigned seats in Parliament according to their population. However, members of the European Parliament have been elected by universal suffrage since 1979 (before which they were seconded from national parliaments), rather than being appointed by governments. Governments do however appoint one member each to the European Commission (in accord with its president), the European Court of Justice (in accord with other members) and the Court of Auditors. Historically, larger member states were granted an extra Commissioner. However, as the body grew, this right has been removed and each state is represented equally. Yet the largest states are granted an Advocates General in the Court of Justice. Finally, the governing of the European Central Bank is made up of the governors of each national central bank (who may or may not be government appointed). The larger states traditionally carry more weight in negotiations, however smaller states can be effective impartial mediators and citizens of smaller states are often appointed to sensitive top posts to avoid competition between the larger states. SovereigntyThe founding treaties state that all member states are indivisibly sovereign and of equal value. However the EU does follow a supranational system (similar to federalism) in European Community matters, in that combined sovereignty is delegated by each member to the institutions in return for representation within those institutions. Those institutions are then empowered to make laws and execute them at a European level. If an state fails to comply with the law of the European Union, it may be fined or have funds withdrawn. In extreme cases, there are provisions for the voting rights or membership of a state to be suspended. On issues outside the European Community (foreign policy, police and courts) less sovereignty is transferred, with issues being dealt with by consensus and cooperation. However, as sovereignty still originates from the national level, it may be withdrawn by a member state who wishes to leave. Hence, if a law is agreed that is not to the liking of a state, it may withdraw from the EU to avoid it. This however has not happened as the benefits of membership are often seen to outweigh any negative impact of certain laws. Furthermore, in realpolitik, concessions and political pressure may lead to a state accepting something not in their interests in order to improve relations and hence strengthen their position on other issues. See also
ReferencesExternal linksca:Estats membres de la Unió Europea cs:?lenové Evropské unie cy:Aelod-wladwriaethau yr Undeb Ewropeaidd de:Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union et:Euroopa Liidu riikide loend es:Estado miembro de la Unión Europea eu:Europar Batasuneko estatu kideak fr:États membres de l'Union européenne ko:?? ??? ??? hy:????????? ???????? ????? ??????? it:Stati membri dell'Unione europea lb:Memberstaate vun der Europäescher Unioun lt:S?ra?as:Europos S?jungos valstyb?s nar?s hu:Az Európai Unió tagállamai ms:Ahli Kesatuan Eropah nl:Lijst van lidstaten van de Europese Unie ja:??????? pl:Pa?stwa cz?onkowskie Unii Europejskiej pt:Estados membros da Uniăo Europeia ru:?????? ????? ?? simple:European Union member state sk:?lenovia Európskej únie sr:?????? ??????? ???????? ????? th:??????????????????? tr:Avrupa Birli?i üyesi ülkeler uk:?????? ????? ????????????? ????? Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
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